Will Ramadan begin on Tuesday? Cloud cover and controversy among specialists

The Islamic world is awaiting the announcement of the first day of the holy month of Ramadan. According to the International Astronomy Center, most Islamic countries began the month of Shaban on Sunday, February 11, 2024 AD, and accordingly, most countries will observe the crescent of Ramadan today, Sunday (March 10), and the central conjunction will occur on this day at nine o’clock in the morning GMT, and the moon will set after sunset in all regions. Almost the Islamic world.

Accordingly, many countries are expected to begin Ramadan on Monday, March 11.

As for the possibility of seeing the crescent today, Sunday, “based on all criteria for seeing the crescent published in peer-reviewed scientific research, including the standard of the Muslim scientist Ibn Tariq, the researcher Fotheringham, the researcher Maunder, the researcher Bruin, the Muslim researcher Elias, the SAAO Astronomical Observatory, the researcher Yallop, and the Muslim researcher Returning, seeing the crescent is not possible today from anywhere in the Arab and Islamic world, whether with the naked eye or using a telescope, while seeing the crescent is possible using a telescope from parts of the Americas, especially from the western parts,” according to the International Astronomy Center.

Therefore, for countries that require visual sighting of the crescent from somewhere in the Islamic world, these countries are expected to begin the month of Ramadan the day after tomorrow, Tuesday (March 12), according to the same source.

The Ramadan crescent may not be seen today
Meanwhile, Saudi weather expert, Abdullah Al-Osaimi, said that it may not be possible to see the Ramadan crescent today in Al-Qassim, Sudair and northern Riyadh due to cloud cover with light dust particles.

However, he added that the weather remains suitable in the Eastern Province, south of Riyadh, Mecca and Tabuk, adding that he expects tomorrow, Monday, to be the first day of the month of Ramadan.

Saudi meteorologist Walid Al-Hogail also published a simulation in which he explains the extent of the possibility of seeing the Ramadan crescent by the position of the moon and sun at sunset today.

In the simulation, according to Al-Haqil, the sun will set at 6 or 6 and 4 minutes, and if the weather is clear, it will be possible to see the moon, although with difficulty, for eleven minutes. Therefore, tomorrow, Monday, will be the first day of Ramadan.

It is noteworthy that the Supreme Court in Saudi Arabia called yesterday, Saturday, to investigate the sighting of the crescent of the month of Ramadan, this evening, and to inform anyone who sees it with the naked eye or through binoculars to the nearest court. (Al-Arabiya)